March 28, 2003
Had another great day sailing in Brad’s sailboat.
Had to be towed back in when the alternator seized up though, (Brad catching the tow rope above).
http://www.herrickhomepage.com/sail w brad 058.mpg (for those with a FAST modem, a movie of the tow!)
Then went in to Fiddlers. Next week there is going to be a contest up near Dad’s place, so I will be going up there.
Amy wrote a note:
We’re going wireless!!
We’re getting rid of our landline and so now you will be able to reach
us through our cell phones…
(On the Family Data page)
All of our other info (email, snailmail,etc) is still the same.
We hope that you are all doing well 🙂 I attached a few pictures of
Sarah and one of our cats, Jaboo.
Love to all,
Darren, Amy, and Sarah Baker
March 27, 2003
Now I have three guys fighting over me to go sailing with them! Carl called and wanted to go sailing yesterday but I had a meeting, today Jim wanted to go but I was off to an interview (the president said I was over qualified), tomorrow Brad is picking me up at 9 AM to go with him!
I have started on another train for a friend, this one will not be as nice as Sarah’s, I am doing it for the fun of it. I got my database all together today, got another small piece of wood (it is padauk wood from Africa), bought and installed a headlight for my car, and made a dozen calls for work. Only the one was returned. Oh, well, will keep trying. Fiddlers tomorrow night.
March 26, 2003(cont)
I spent some time with Joel today, he finished another painting (check out that beautiful frame – the frame was very much damaged before he repaired it):
he also cleaned and fixed up the painting; detail below (this picture is downgraded for quicker uploading, click http://www.herrickhomepage.com/E.StummelDusstoff.jpg for a better version):
No more news at this juncture, I did put together a puzzle last night and this morning:
I had meant it for Amy’s Sarah but I do not think a two year old would be much interested in it. I got the beautiful wood on either side (and the “handles”) from a store here and the piece in the middle from David. It has not been varnished yet.
March 23, 2003
MILITARY RULES FOR THE NON-MILITARY
1) The next time you see an adult talking during the playing of the
National Anthem . kick their butt.
2) When you witness firsthand someone burning the American Flag in
protest … kick their butt.
3) Regardless of the rank they held while they served, pay the highest
amount of respect to all veterans. If you see anyone doing otherwise,
quietly pull them aside and explain how these Veterans fought for the very
freedom they bask in every second. Enlighten them on the many sacrifices
these Veterans made to make this Nation great. Then hold them down while
a Disabled Veteran kicks their butt.
4) If you were never in the military, DO NOT pretend that you were. Wearing
battle dress uniforms (BDU’s), telling others that you used to be “Special
Forces,” and collecting GI Joe memorabilia, might have been okay if you
were still seven. Now, it will only make you look stupid and get your
butt kicked.
5) If you witness someone calling an enlisted Marine “Sir,” stand back …
a Marine will kick their butt.
6) Next time you come across an Air Force member, do not ask them, “Do you
fly a jet?” Not everyone in the Air Force is a pilot. Such ignorance
deserves an butt kickin (children are exempt).
7) Roseanne Barr’s singing of the National Anthem is not a blooper … it
was a disgrace and disrespectful. Laugh, and sooner or later your butt will
be kicked.
8) Next time Old Glory prances by during a parade, get on your damn feet
and pay homage to her by placing your hand over your heart. Quietly thank
the military member or veteran lucky enough to be carrying her …..
of course, failure to do either of those could earn you a severe butt kicking.
9) What Jane Fonda did during the Vietnam War makes her the enemy. The
proper word to describe her is “traitor.” Just mention her nomination for
“Woman of the Year” and get your butt kicked..
10) Don’t try to discuss politics with a military member or a veteran. We
are Americans and we all bleed the same regardless of our party
affiliation.
Our Chain of Command, is to include our commander in Chief. The President
(for those who didn’t know) is our CIC regardless of political party.. We have
no inside track on what happens inside those big important buildings where
all those “representatives” meet. All we know is that when those civilian
representatives screw up the situation, they call upon the military to go
straighten it out. The military member might direct you to Oliver North.
(I can see him kicking your butt already.)
11) “Your mama wears combat boots” never made sense to me … stop saying
it! If she did, she would most likely be a vet and probably kick your butt!
12) Bin Laden and the Taliban are not communists, so stop saying “Let’s go
kill those Commie’s!!!” And stop asking us where he is!!!! Crystal balls
are not standard issue in the military. That reminds me …. if you see anyone
calling those damn psychic phone numbers; let me know, so I can go kick
their butt.
13) Bus Driver, Jar Head, Grunt, Swabbie etc, are terms of endearment
we use describing each other. Unless you are a service member or vet,
you have not earned the right to use them. Could get your butt kicked.
14) Last but not least, whether or not you become a member of the
military, support our troops and their families. Every Thanksgiving and
religious holiday that you enjoy with family and friends please remember
that there are, literally, thousands of troops overseas wishing they could
be with their families.
Thank God for our military and the sacrifices
they make every day. Without them, our country would get
its butt kicked.
March 22, 2003
Carl Tilly invited me to go sailing today, it was a beautiful day out there. Foolish me, I left my camera in the car; the last few times we went out there was nothing special to photograph. We had no one but the two of us and my hands were full when I got on the boat, so I did not make a second trip. BIG mistake. I saw some activity over to the north side of the track we were on and rerouted to see what was going on. It was a huge school of dolphin, all swimming around on the surface, splashing with their tails, rolling, having fun. Then, right next to us, two females lifted a baby to the surface!! They tossed the baby maybe two feet into the air! We think it was just born, it was so tiny and they were giving it it’s first breath. Then we saw it several times later swimming with it’s mom! We were quite excited. Most likely I could never have caught it on film, but there was a good chance I would have, given that they were spending so much time on the surface. What a day!!
March 20, 2003
Quite the neat websites!
To decode the Aircraft Type, click on the following FAA link: http://www.faa.gov/ATPUBS/CNT/5-2.HTM. Then click on the letter corresponding to the first letter of the aircraft designator code and scroll through the list until you find the aircraft for which you are looking.
To decode the Airline in the Flight ID field, click on the following FAA link: http://www.faa.gov/ATPUBS/CNT/3-3.HTM. Use “Section 3 by 3-Letter Identifier.” Click on the letter corresponding to the first letter of the airline code and scroll through the list until you find the airline you are seeking.
To decode the ORIGIN and DESTINATION fields for U.S. and foreign airports, click on the following ICAO link: http://www.ar-group.com/icaoiata.htm. Enter the airport’s 3 or 4 letter code into the ICAO/IATA field and click on the Submit button.
Misc. codes used by FAA http://www1.faa.gov/ATPUBS/CNT/CNTHME.HTM
AIRPORTS
http://www4.passur.com/sdf.html Louisville
http://www.bocaratonairport.com/core_tracks.asp Boca Raton
http://www4.passur.com/lax.html Los Angeles too!
March 19, 2003
Check out this incredible web site of Boston:
http://www4.passur.com/bos.html
I went on a job interview today; actually I was not invited in for an interview, in fact a headhunter had already brought my name to them last November and they had told her that I did not have the experience they wanted. I knew that to not be true, so I was talking with one of their employees today about FES stuff and I told him I was going to be “in the area”, would he be available for a chat. When I got there he was not back from an errand, but I ran into another employee I knew, we got started talking, then he invited in another, and a third, and I may have a real interview next week! They loved me!
I have been making a little money from PTEC-PWA (see the web page I built for them http://www.publicworksacademy.com ) for the web page and a database they needed.
And one of the best news yet!
My sailboat came back!! Doesn’t it look great up there next to the seagull Dad’s Betty gave me!!
March 17, 2003
It has been a crazy 10 days since this has been updated. Jane came into my life, left, then a week later came back; now?
I have been let go from my work, I am unemployed, again! The company really ran out of work. Chitester is now down from a high of 60 people to 13.
I had a super birthday party for Jim, my sailing and chess partner.
This is the picture of Jim and me out sailing in his sailboat “RAKKASAN” that I blew up to 40″ by 30″ for a present for Jim. A bunch of our old friends from the marina came over and we had a great party!
Donald has invited me to come live in San Francisco. It might be a way, if I do not find work here. I have been trying for months to no avail so far.
Well I guess Iran is going to get hit. The President made that pretty clear tonight. My world has changed, now theirs too?
March 7, 2003
Jane
Jane and I went to see Yanni last night! We had super seats!! It was like being in the same room with him! We were 5 seats back, with no one between us and the stage (we were at an isle) and up at the same level, so we were like thirty feet from him. The orchestra was wonderful, it seemed that Yanni appreciated both us and his people so much. Almost everyone in the orchestra had a song that they were featured!! So much talent!!!! When he comes to a town near you I recommend this one highly!
Yanni is Greek but has been all over the world with his music. Even so he comes off being very humble and gracious; like we were his guests to a private concert!
March 5, 2003
Jane and I will be going to see Yanni tomorrow night! We have super seats. We are also meeting for dinner tonight.
My taxes are done, I am getting a rebate, what more could I ask!
Jane and I went to Sea Critters for dinner tonight, wonderful sitting there outdoors – on the dock eating dinner – 76 degrees!
March 2, 2003
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANIEL AND DARRELL tomorrow!
David sent a message (he does such a nice job with the photos!!):
John,
We have just returned from a wonderful trip to Scotland to visit Heather and Michael and attend Payton’s first birthday party. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and hated to leave.
There are a couple of pictures attached, if anyone in the family wants to see or hear more, I can scan in other pictures and send them direct to them.
David & Jean
I went to the opera “IL TROVATORE” last night with one of my adopted mothers from the cruise I went on last March! It was a fantastic performance.
I have just completed working on the first batch of photographs Aunt Shirley brought down (note the torn patch over the patch on dad’s knee!):
I created a slide show of them you can view by clicking here: shirley&dad.htm
| 2004 | Donald | |
| 2005 | David and Jean’s Housewarming party, Pocomoonshine Lake, Princeton, Maine | |
| 2006 | Darrell & Marilyn | |
| 2007 | Dan | |
| 2008 | Sue and Al | |
| 2009 | John | |
| 2010 | Donald |